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(11) | EP 0 257 851 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | Electronic component spacer mechanism |
(57) A spacer (10) for spacing the leading component (20) of a single file column of electronic
components. The spacer comprises a shuttle (42) mounted below and located adjacent
a feeder (12) for reciprocating movement across the path followed by the components
(20). A first stop (70) is provided on the shuttle (42) which is arranged to extend
across the path to stop the advance of the next following component (20) at a first
point as the shuttle moves from its first position to its second position and back
to its first position. A second stop (82) is provided on the shuttle which is arranged
to extend across the path when the shuttle is in the first position, to stop the advance
of the leading component (20) at a second point which is located downstream of the
first point. A passage (90) opens through the shuttle to permit passage of the leading
component (20) from the first point to the pick-off point. The passage has a first
angularly inclined face (58) arranged to engage the lead wire (26) of a leading component
(20) located at the second point as the shuttle moves from its first position to its
second position to advance the leading component from the second point to the pick-off
point to space it from the next following component. |